A Jewelry Box For My Daughter – Cracked Bandsaw Box 2023
A decade ago I got this 14" bandsaw. Shortly after getting it I made a bunch of these cracked bandsaw boxes. A little while ago...
Vlog 174: A Week of Gift Making
This week, I started another gift for my daughter. Halfway through the week, I realized I had family coming to visit for a few...
Workbench Vise & Finish, My Daughters Workbench
Last week, I made this workbench for my daughter. The top is white oak and the base is poplar. All of the joinery is...
A Workbench For My Daughter
If you'd like to purchase the CNC files for this build, click here.
My daughter is five now. I think it's time for her to...
Tool Talk #21: Oliver 15 Helical Cutterhead Planer (10014)
In this video, I discuss my thoughts regarding the Oliver 10015 15" helical head planer. Overall, I'm pleased with my purchase, and I'm DEFINITELY...
Bandsaw Maintenance – Grizzly G0555LANV
Tool cleaner: https://amzn.to/40x2REB
A decade ago, I purchased this exact bandsaw. It's the Grizzly G0555LANV. It's a GREAT bandsaw, by the way. When I got...
Can Scaled Models Sell More Furniture?
Can scaled models sell more furniture? I'm not sure, as I don't make furniture to sell. But from the outside looking in, I do...
Laser Business First Two Months – xTool P2 55W CO2 laser
xTool P2 Laser info: https://www.xtool.com/?ref=x57e1_kqAgBT4A&utm_medium=5306&utm_source=influencer
→ 40 sets of just LED light bases: https://amzn.to/3Ml8SOW
→ 12 pack of LED light base and acrylic: https://amzn.to/49es6zl
→ 4mm acrylic:...
Vlog 173: Riser Block, Movie Theatre, Jerky, Projects
A normal vlog update.
Riser Block
Camping recommendation
Outdoor movie theater experience?
Jerky recipe?
YES, I keep shellac in a sprayer at all times...
Celebration Village Sign, More Charcuterie, and a “NEW” Bandsaw
As of late, my shop time is resulting in less structured builds and more random progress with a bunch of stuff. In this video...
Bandsaw Accident
Whew. This one hurt. Although, it shouldn't have because it shouldn't have ever happened. Please learn from my mistake here.
A Small Production Run of Charcuterie Boards
Recently, my wife launched momandmelaser.com. It's her laser engraving introduction to creating and I LOVE that she is doing it. She asked me to...
Vlog 172: I can finally talk about this..
The website is FINALLY functional. My wife started a laser engraving business. You can check it out at momandmelaser.com. She makes craft decor, seasonal...
XTool P2 55w CO2 Laser Engraver – Overview and First Impressions
Affiliate link to the xTool P2 55w CO2 laser. Purchasing through this link provides me with a small commission on the sale. Using this...
xTool P2 Laser Engraver Cart – Free Files
I recently accepted an offer to pay for the xTool P2 laser engraver via three marketing videos. More on that in the next few...
Avid CNC Ep6: Rotary 4th Axis
CNC upgrade time :)
When I initially decided on a 4'x10' modular machine from AvidCNC, I knew I wanted three main working areas. The middle...
An Organized Catch-All Space
I'd like to start this project by confirming what most of you already think: I am an idiot. Apparently, I couldn't read a tape...
Ice Cold Retro Cooler Box
This was a fun build. Relatively basic but very useful and I think it looks great. When I designed this cart, I immediately thought...
My most expensive mistake so far. What’s yours?
Today is day 12 of a 14-day family road trip, and nobody is awake yet. I promised myself I would actually unplug from the...
I’ll NEVER buy a push stick again. This is why.
I think I have all of the fancy push sticks on the market. I have enough of them and experience with them to know...
A Tip to Be More Productive – Beginning Woodworker Tip
Purchase a Custom LED sign: https://jayscustomcreations.aweb.page/p/e2846be1-4303-4f17-a0b8-b8523318a9be
→ Buy the sign kits: https://amzn.to/3NzHxIu
→ Diamond Drag Bit (use the code JAYBATES for a discount): https://bitsbits.com/product/250-cncdrag/
My daughter will...
Mini Split Air Filter Mod…. Does it still work?
It's been a few years. How are the filters holding up? Quite well, if I do say so myself. This has turned out to...
Tool Talk #20 – ALL of my dust collectors + a minor tweak
Limited time merch: https://troublemuffin.com/pages/jay-bates-merch
I recently picked up a few more dust collection pipe components to move my floor sweep. I figured it would be...
A Productive Day In The Shop
It's Father's Day today. Right now, I'm at my dad's house in Michigan, sitting at the base of a massive tree I climbed when...
2023 Shop Tour + Shop setup recommendations
It's been a couple of years since my last shop tour video. And, of course, stuff has changed sine then. Hopefully, you can get...
Vlog 171: RIP Cleo + Stools and such
A typical vlog video:
About the Hammer A3-41 https://jayscustomcreations.com/2023/05/goodbye-old-friend-a3-41/
We have a doggy senior citizen daycare, basically.
My go-to glue is MPA II https://veneersystems.com/product/mpa-ii-precatalyzed-crosslink-pva-1-gallon/
Half Lap Stools – Tips for precise table saw half laps
Our outdoor kitchen area is nearing completion. Of course, there are always little things to do here and there and everywhere. But the main...
Outdoor Kitchen Solid Surface Countertops – Paperstone
I have a SketchUp model for this build with all of the measurements, but it's always best to measure physical space when possible. This...
Goodbye, Old Friend (A3-41)
In March of this year, this website turned a decade old. And before writing this, I noticed there are 1,099 articles (posts) on this...
Make This: Kerfmaker Style Stop Block for Half Lap Joints
Half lap joints are really fast and easy to make. They are also really strong due to the surface area of the wide face...
Dovetailed Halflap Keyhole Mortise and Tenon Firewood Racks
The name makes this project sound more amazing than what it is. Essentially, this is an experiment project for me to dial in the...
Tool Talk#19: Hammer HS950 Edge Sander
When I moved to my current shop one of my goals was to increase sanding efficiency and capability. In doing so I picked up...
SketchUp: Extension to help with manual layouts
Over the years, I've developed a SketchUp workflow that is very efficient for me. I start with a 3d wireframe boundary box with no...
Every Table Saw Should Have These
Every table saw should have these. If you own a table saw you will benefit from making a pair of these. Even if you...
A Toy Camper for my Daughter’s Dolls
We recently sold our bunk house camper and got a toy hauler camper. We realized that the three of us don't need a camper...
Vlog 171: Quick Hello Update
Just a quick update on stuff. I took a break from screen time after the last CNC project. It felt great to get away...
The Ultimate OneFinity CNC Setup – Spoilboard, Cart, Vertical Table
A year ago, one of my neighbor woodworking friends got a OneFinity X-50 Journeyman CNC machine. He agreed to let me make a complete...
Maple Chalkboard and Clipboard Easel – One Day Build
In this video I made a simple easel with a few scrap pieces of maple, a scrap piece of plywood, a 1/2" dowel, three...
Vlog 170: Cat house follow up and winners
The cat loves the cat house. The only error I found was on my part. The 150w bulb was just too powerful for the...
Insulated and Heated Cat or Dog House
Affiliate links to items used:
→ Thermostat https://amzn.to/3CbHZYm
→ Heating element https://amzn.to/3vqITN6
→ lamp base https://amzn.to/3G2wcwH
→ Vinyl door flap https://amzn.to/3jCuWce
It's getting cold, as it does every winter.....
Foam Nativity Scene for Christmas
Check out these bits for foam. You don't have to have a CNC machine. Just draw what you want and carve it out with...
Flush Trim Router Bits
Bits and Bits is a long time partner of Jays Custom Creations. They create high quality router bits and offer them with competitive pricing....
Nas Migration and a Few Data Tips – DS1522+
Nas: DS1522+ https://amzn.to/3DX5B2W
Anyone who works with massive amounts of video or photo files knows how easy it is to burn through all the available...
Trading Labor – Bartering to get stuff done
→ Flattening bit https://bitsbits.com/product/bitsbits-sf525-surfacing-router-bit/
→ Fuji HVLP sprayer https://amzn.to/3MLH9Wy
→ Milk Paint https://amzn.to/3TiT00H
I recently completed a matching farm table base and an outdoor kitchen sink island....
No Clamp Joinery – Farm Table Base
When I initially designed our outdoor kitchen and patio area, I included a farm table that would match the sink island. In this video,...
Testing the BitsBits SF525 Surfacing Bit
NOTE: I misspoke in the video. The max RPM is 14,000. NOT the 14,500 that I was running it at. That said, I did...
Cabinet Doors and Drawer Fronts – Outdoor Kitchen Island – Day 4
Day four of the outdoor kitchen island build starts with the door and drawer front assembly. I'm using 1/2” plywood for the panels and...
Vlog #169: Giveaway Winner, Broken CNC? Broken Truck?
Video notes:
- Check out Leather by Dragonfly
- Thanks for entering the giveaway last month. Much appreciated.
- My daughter turns 4 next week. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!!!!?!!!
STOP Breaking Router Bits!
Breaking a router or CNC bit is frustrating. I know it is because I've broken dozens of them. Here are three suggestions for reducing...
Interesting Stuff From Around The Web #285 – August 27, 2022
Occasionally I like to share a few things I find interesting. Mostly video content with an occasional website article. All of the content you...